Visitors who came to Hawaii in May 2013 spent a total of $1.05 billion 1, relatively unchanged from May 2012, according to preliminary statistics released today by the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

Total arrivals, which have continuously increased since November 2011, rose another 3.7 percent to 645,711 visitors in May 2013. However, compared to a year ago, visitor length of stay shortened and average daily visitor spending was lower (-1.9% to $187 per person). In the first five months of 2013, total visitor expenditures rose 5.1 percent to $6.1 billion and total arrivals grew 5.7 percent to 3,439,087 visitors.

The trend in increased arrivals, shorter stays and lower daily spending was evident in three of the top four visitor markets. Arrivals by air from U.S. West rose 2.3 percent to 268,120 visitors in May 2013 marking one and a half years of continuous growth, while total expenditures declined 5.1 percent to $350.9 million. Arrivals from Japan rose 4.8 percent to 111,432 visitors in May 2013, the 22nd continuous month of growth. However, Japanese visitor expenditures fell 1.1 percent to $185.5 million. Arrivals from Canada increased 16.3 percent to 26,689 visitors while length of stay declined 5.9 percent. Total visitor expenditures by Canadian visitors grew 3.6 percent to $42.3 million.

U.S. East, on the other hand, showed a 10.1 percent growth in daily spending and an increased number of arrivals (+1.1% to 142,530), which contributed to a 10.3 percent growth in U.S. East total expenditures to $284.7 million.

While arrivals from All Other markets rose 11.9 percent from May 2012, combined total visitor expenditures fell 6.3 percent to $184.7 million. A total of 92,840 visitors from All Other markets came to the Hawaiian Islands in May 2013: Oceania (+29.1%), Other Asia (+23.4%), Europe (+6.9%) and Latin America (+23.4%).

May 2013 total visitor expenditures increased on Hawaii Island but declined on Kauai, Maui and Oahu compared to a year ago (See page 4).

Total air seats in May 2013 grew 6.9 percent to 857,003 seats, with significant growth in scheduled seats from U.S. East (+29.6%), Oceania (+71.5%) and Other Asia (+25.4%) (See page 5).

Year-to-date 2013:

Total visitor spending increased from U.S. West (+9.6% to $2 billion), U.S. East (+9.4% to $1.5 billion) and Canada (+2.5% to $573.5 million). U.S. West (+6.1%), U.S. East (+1.7%), Japan (+5.4%) and Canada (+2.4%) arrivals showed moderate gains, while arrivals from Oceania (+33.4%), Other Asia (+24.2%), Europe (+13.8%) and Latin America (+31.1%) rose by double-digits.

Oahu (+5.6% to $3 billion; +6.4% to 2,059,046 visitors); Hawaii Island (+10.8% to $816 million; +4.1% to 622,186 visitors) and Kauai (+5.8% to $594.5 million; +5.1% to 454,071 visitors) showed growth in total visitor expenditures and arrivals compared to the first five months of 2012. Total visitor spending on Maui ($1.6 billion) was comparable to May 2012, while arrivals to this island rose 4.7 percent to 989,977 visitors.